FG disbands arms probe panel


The presidential panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe arms procurement between 2007 and 2015 has been disbanded, Sunday PUNCH learnt exclusively on Saturday.


It was gathered that among other reasons , the panel , which uncovered a $ 15 bn fraud in arms procurement , was scrapped because government believed it had outlived its usefulness.


Our correspondent learnt that before its dissolution, the panel had begun moves to investigate the tenure of the present National Security Adsiver, Babagana Monguno , as the Chief of Defence Intelligence between July 2009 and September , 2011 .


The panel had submitted its first interim report in November 2015 while it presented the second report in January 2016 following which Buhari ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate 18 serving and retired military officers , mainly from the Air Force.


Sunday PUNCH ’ s investigation revealed that the panel , which has AVM J. O . N. Ode ( retd. ) as the chairman , was dissolved by the NSA .


A top government official , who spoke on the condition of anonymity , told our correspondent that the panel was asked to hand over to the EFCC .


The source said the anti - graft commission had already taken over the assignment .


When asked why the panel was dissolved , the source said the NSA who set up the committee was of the view that it had run its course .


“ The NSA is of the view that they have run out of time . You know they have a time frame and he said they wanted to perpetuate themselves . And you know they have a budget and have been drawing money, ” the source said .


But another top official in government, who craved anonymity , confirmed that it was disbanded to avoid a clash with the NSA.


The source said the committee ran into trouble with Monguno when members decided to probe his tenure as the Chief of Defence Intelligence from July 2009 to September 2011 .


Meanwhile , a source close to the committee has told our correspondent that he is not aware of the dissolution.


“ I have not been told officially that the panel has been dissolved . It was the President that set up the panel . We will wait for him to return , ” he said .


According to reports in May last year , the panel during its investigation discovered that the total amount involved in arms fraud was $ 15 bn .


Apart from Ode , who is the panel ’ s president , the committee ’ s members include R / Adm . J. A. Aikhomu (retd . ); R /Adm . E . Ogbor (retd . ); Brig . - Gen . L. Adekagun (retd . ); Brig . - Gen . M. Aminu - Kano (retd . ); Brig . - Gen . N. Rimtip (retd . ); Cdre T . D . Ikoli ; Air Cdre U . Mohammed (retd . ); Air Cdre I . Shafi ’ i ; Col . A . A . Ariyibi ; Gp Capt C . A. Oriaku (rtd . ); and the Acting Chairman of the EFCC , Mr . Ibrahim Magu . The panel has Brig - Gen Y . I . Shalangwa as its Secretary .


Following the submission of the panel ’ s second interim report , Buhari had on January 15 , 2016 directed the EFCC to carry out further investigation into the alleged misconduct established against some retired and serving officers of the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army .


Those affected in the order included embattled former National Security Adviser , Lt . - Col . Sambo Dasuki (retd . ); a former Chief of Defence Staff , Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd . ); and two former Chiefs of Air Staff , Air Marshal MD Umar (retd . ) and Air Marshal Adesola Amosun (retd . ).


The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu , had disclosed the President ’ s directive in a statement made available to journalists .


Shehu had listed others that the President asked the EFCC to probe to include : Maj. -Gen . ER Chioba ( retd. ); AVM IA Balogun (retd . ); AVM AG Tsakr (retd . ); AVM AG Idowu (retd . ); AVM AM Mamu ; AVM OT Oguntoyinbo ; AVM T Omenyi ; AVM JB Adigun; AVM RA Ojuawo ; AVM JA Kayode -Beckley; Air Cdre SA Yushau (retd . ); Air Cdre AO Ogunjobi; Air Cdre GMD Gwani ; Air Cdre SO Makinde; Air Cdre AY Lassa ; and Col . N Ashinze .


He added that following the submission of the audit committee ’ s second interim report, the President had also directed the EFCC to investigate the roles of the officers as well as some companies and their directors in fundamental breaches associated with the procurements by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Air Force .


He gave the names of those affected to include : Messrs Societe D ’ Equipments Internationaux ; Himma Aboubakar ; Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited ; Messrs Syrius Technologies ; Dr . Theresa A . Ittu; Sky Experts Nig Ltd . ; Omenyi Ifeanyi Tony ; Huzee Nig . Ltd . ; GAT Techno Dynamics Ltd . ; Gbujie Peter Obie and Onuri Samuel Ugochukwu .
Others were Spacewebs Interservices Ltd . ; Oguntoyinbo Tayo ; Oguntoyinbo Funmi ; Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd . ; Chief Jacobs Bola ; Mono Marine Corporation Nig . Ltd . ; Geonel Intergrated Services Ltd . ; Sachi Felicia ; Mudaki Polycarp and Wolfgang Reinl .


http://punchng.com/fg-disbands-arms-probe-panel/

So they can start another witch hunt, who next, next PDP henchman to be tackled.

Relax, if you switch to Apc, you are not corrupt anymore.

So now that it has gotten to the current NSA Monguno, they have decided to dissolve it. I smell something fishy. This current govt is not serious with fighting corruption.

It's time frame has elapsed indeed.

..."Our correspondent learnt that before its dissolution, the panel had begun moves to investigate the tenure of the present National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno , as the Chief of Defence Intelligence between July 2009 and September , 2011..."

The panel was disbanded by the National Security Adviser people.. Nuff said

RobbStark:
So now that it has gotten to the current NSA Monguno, they have decided to dissolve it. I smell something fishy. This current govt is not serious with fighting corruption.

It's time frame has elapsed indeed.

Such is life.

sarrki

Hahahhaa.
Truly it has overstepped it's bound.
Thank you CHANGE!!!

After wasting tax payers money, what did the clowns apc hired find out? Nothing I guess... By the way who is paying buharis health bills @£1=#630, is it the govt that has been paying health workers % salaries since last year?

A snake charmer cannot be stupi.d enough to let his snake play roughly with him.

Mayb now some of these morons would agree d whole charade is jus a witch-hunt.. Sarrki and co won't see dis corruption now.. Bunch of clowns

If the sole reason for disbanding the panel is cause of the current NSA being investigated, then the entire foray stinks to the high heavens

This was my post on a particular thread which reported about how they forged Buhari's signature to sell $19m crude oil to China.

You're wrong. what we call anti-corruption is just a fight against opposition or those that bonce worked for the past govt.
Ask yourself this, if Bachir Lawal, Buratai, COS and several others were in opposition or Buhari's black book, wouldn't he have done something concerning the allegations about them.
This particular corruption was carried out by Buhari's allies and be assured he will not do naything about it.

The same Buhari who openly said Abacha never stole, wrote letter to defend Bachir Lawal is not fighting corruption, just fighting his enemies while he defends his corrupt men. It doesn't take integrity to do this; anyone can use any guise to oppress his enemy for any particular offence while he turns blind eye when his friends do same.

I always tell those who care to listen that they should not celebrate this 'anti-corruption' charade from Buhari and his men. We are simply experiencing another set of thieves (Buhari's allies) while he is just tormenting those he sees as enemies or in his black book.
Buhari was in hurry to arrest Dasuki for the arm scam allegation, he still keeps him jailed after he has been ordered to release Dasuki.
Apparently, this panel was disbanded because Buhari's men were actively featured in the fraud.

Buhari that said Abacha never stole.
Buhari that wrote letter to defend Bachir Lawal.
Same Buhari, whose EFCC has been docile towards petitions against Fayemi, Amaechi and several scam allegations against Fashola.
This same Buhari will disband the arm probe panel when he realises it will indict any of his men. The man is that biased and one-sided.
Does anyone still think we're fighting corruption?

NOOO

Wonderful!!!!

I send? Abeg make man u kill blackburn for me jare.....na that one i dey follow

That's Ok?

#DasukiGate was a trending topic then, I think this post deserves a FP so that Nigerians can know we're just being played by Buhari, using various state institutions to intimidate his enemies, the kind of drama Nigerians call anti-corruption.

Lalasticlala, whatta u waiting for?

.....So the arms deal probe and Dasuki soap opera has bitten the dust as expected??..lol ''buhari is fighting corruption indeed' ...

...Ignorant and gullible apc zombie supporters who regularly jumps around like circus monkeys whenever their apc masters releases a'pdp is corrupt' video featuring pdp members are just that..ZOMBIES!

Hahaha! Na so! EFCC the quintessential Buhari dogsbody has taken over..okay na.

PMB cannot fight corruption.

he is only playing on the gullibility of those with weak minds.

this regime is all about smoke & mirrors.

but I would like to see what PMB has to say about this when he returns from his 10 day vacation/indefinite sick leave.

So this cacophony game has gone down the drain just like the Saraki saga sending their followers to mourn in silence.

Awwww. God save the ignorance followers.